Page 24 of Jacqueline's Quest

“No, not at all. What I am saying is, you’re hurting. I understand, but you have to focus.”

“So, I’m a liability, got it.” She stomped off, joining Jaqueline and Murray. Everything Thomas said, however, was the truth. If she couldn’t gather her wits about her, she would become the weakest link in the chain and, in the end, could tear apart the mission before it even got off the ground.

Murray nudged her. “You okay?”

She pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Define, ‘okay.’”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” Murray leaned in and whispered, “I’m not comfortable with this either.”

She gasped glancing up at him. “What?”

He nodded, leading her away from Thomas and Jaqueline. "Honest. I'm supposed to be Jaqueline's submissive. She's fucking sexy and she turns me on, but giving up control, to her?"

“Not easy?”

“Hell no,” Murray stated. “I’m one hundred percent pure Alpha-male. Giving up control in the bedroom though and in front of people who have held my sister for ten plus years, I’m not sure I can.” Sometimes the truth was easier to use in situations like these and right now, AJ needed as much honesty as what they could all give her.

“It’s scary.”

Yeah, he understood. The thought of giving up complete control to someone he didn't know, drove him to the brink. Sure, he had a few weeks on AJ and Thomas when it came to getting to know his partner, however, he was doing everything that went against who he'd been. It rankled the Dom within him to kneel before a more submissive woman, he suspected, than even AJ. It also turned him on. The constant war he waged with himself on a daily basis edged on insanity, and that insanity caused him to not be able to give up his control. He wanted to tell Jaqueline what to do. He wanted to see her bend to his will, not the other way around. He also realized if he didn't get himself together, he could be the reason the mission failed. All it would take was one misstep by him and they'd all be exposed. The pressure he put on himself, just like the pressure he knew AJ placed on her shoulders, could be daunting. Add in her unease when it came to Luca, well, she was a ticking timebomb. She needed to unwind, as did he. Perhaps, it'd been why Asher sent them to Luca, to begin with.

“It is,” Murray agreed. “But I am going to give a hundred and ten percent to this mission because my sister, Jaqueline’s brother, and our fellow teammate Scotty, are in there and they need us to save them.”

"You're good at pep talks," she murmured. "Anybody ever tell you that?"

He laughed. “Sometimes.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Have you...” She nibbled her bottom lip as if silently contemplating her next question. “Are you and Jaqueline, you know...”

“Fucking?” Murray barked out a laugh. “You’re adorable. But, no. We haven’t. Doesn’t mean we haven’t tried out being Domme and submissive.” He frowned. “It’s not going well though.”

“Have you thought about switching the rolls?”

Murray scrubbed his chin. “We did. It would be easier on us, however, of the four of us, Jaqueline knows the ins and outs of the club better. It would look a little suspicious if a sub was telling her Master where to go.”

“Guess it’s why we’re here, huh?”

He nodded. “Yep. See if I can get comfortable with the idea.”

“If not?”

“Guess I’m benched, and Luca has to take over.” Murray shrugged. “Same for you, I suspect.”

AJ blanched, shaking her head. “No, you need to learn. I don’t trust hi—”

“What are you two conspiring about over there?” Luca called out as he closed the doors behind him.

“Which book we want to read first,” Murray said, leaving AJ’s side. “Who knew we had a common like for old books.”

Luca grinned. “Take whichever one you like. There are more than enough.”

“T-thank you,” AJ said, crossing to Thomas.

"Not a problem," Luca answered. "Now, let's cut the bullshit. You're all here because Asher and Tex are concerned you're having issues." He looked at AJ and Thomas. "Your situation is different. You're missing a member of your team, however, you have to get your heads on straight if you plan on walking into that club. Going in as you are now, they'll see right through you."

“I respect your point of view, but I’ll do what I need to with AJ.” Thomas stepped closer to AJ. “She’s my priority. We’ll get our relationship sorted. Don’t you worry.”

"Fine." Luca looked at Murray. "You're the sub in this situation, if you can put aside your indifference to the situation, it'll go smoother for you." He then gave his attention to Jaqueline. "You're the Dom act like it. If you can't keep him under your thrall, then you will be side-eyed by everyone in the room. They will question whether or not you are in control. They'll see his insolence as an extension of you. Whereas in a normal setting, some might turn a blind eye, in the Emporium of Monsters, they scrutinize it. Especially since you'll be with their precious cargo and their moneymakers."

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